What is SEO and is it right for you? If you’re pondering this question, you aren’t alone. Here are some responses from Colorado-based businesses when asked to share thoughts or experiences with SEO and/or SEO firms:

Anonymous business: “[Search engine optimization is an] interesting concept, I would have to know a lot more about the entire subject as well as how this could make the company one penny more in revenue.”

Green Hat: Our SEO services not only include results, but also education. We believe in empowering you to make the best decisions for your web site.

Anonymous business: “Whilst SEO can be shown to positively influence SERP it is a bit of a ‘black art’ – sometimes it doesn’t work at all.”

Green Hat: There are a wide variety of approaches to SEO. We are dedicated to helping you decide what specific SEO services that will be most effective for your web site.

Anonymous business: “The bad of SEO is that sometimes the content becomes to keyword-y. SEO brings traffic from search engines, but the SEOed copy can sometimes drive traffic away as well. As a web surfer, I hate to ready SEOed copy.”

Green Hat: Here we know that while SEO helps the “machines” categorize and rank your web site, it’s ultimately the “humans” who are your customers and clients. Our services won’t leave anyone feeling like your web site is just catered to “machines”.

Anonymous business: “Everyone nowadays claim they can do SEO. Make sure you have some really good case studies of actual clients that show before-and-after results”

Green Hat: This is true!

Anonymous business: “We’ve had good results with SEO.”

Green Hat: After you work with Green Hat, you’ll be saying the same thing. We honestly believe that.

Anonymous business: “I’m generally in favor of good SEO, but I think a lot of people do it unethically. I’m not sure if on some deeper level, there’s an almost inherent problem with it.”

Green Hat: Unfortunately some people live less ethically than others. Ethics is important to Green Hat. Accordingly we practice ethical SEO — and still get you great results.

Anonymous business: “SEO is not rocket science.”

Green Hat: There are some things about SEO that are common sense. But it would certainly be a mistake to think that SEO professionals — whether Green Hat or other SEO companies — couldn’t offer valuable guidance to take your web site to the next level. Playing football is not rocket science either, but there’s a reason why even the best players have coaches.

Anonymous business: “I haven’t had any experience with this although i have heard of it and i think it is a great idea if a business relies on the web for their customer base.”

Green Hat: If you’re still sure that SEO can help you become more successful, let us know. We’d be happy to talk with you openly and honestly, and address any questions you might have.

Survey source: Small Business Development Center, Denver, Colorado